Around 5.2 million people aged 15 to 34 years saw a General Practitioner(GP)in 2017-18, yet only just over two in three (67 per cent) felt that the GP always listened carefully to them compared with over four in five people (83 per cent) aged 65 years and over.

Results released today from the 2017-18 Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Patient Experience Survey showed that young people were less satisfiedwith their GP experience than patients aged 65 years and over.

Young people aged 15 to 34 years were also less likely to feel that the GP always showed them respect (75 per cent compared with 87 per cent of older patients) and less likely to feel that the GP always spent enough time with them (70 per cent compared with 84 per cent of older patients).

Director of Health Statistics at the ABS, Louise Gates said, "Further results from the survey show that as expected, young people aged 15 to 34 years generally usedhealth services less often than older people, with 77 per cent seeing a GP, 26 per cent seeing a medical specialist, and 10 per cent being admitted to hospital.

“This compared with 96 per cent, 57 per cent and 20 per cent ofpeopleaged 65 years and over. However, those aged 15 to 34 years were twice as likely to have seen an after hours GP (10 per cent) as those aged 65 years and over (5 per cent).

“At the same time, people aged 15 to 34 years werethree times more likely to delay seeing a medical specialist (27 per cent compared with 9 per cent) and nearly twice as likely to delay seeing a dental professional (35 per cent compared with 20 per cent ) than those aged 65 years and over."

"In particular, younger people were more likely to delay or not use health services due to cost, with 13 per cent of those aged 15 to 34 years delaying or not seeinga medical specialist due to cost compared with 2 per cent of people aged 65 years and over. Similarly, 21 per cent delayed or did not seea dental professional due to cost compared with 9 per cent of people aged 65 years and over,” Ms Gates said.

· For this publication after hours means before 8am or after 1pm on a Saturday, any time on a Sunday or Public Holiday, or before 8am or after 8pm on any other day. · For this publication, dental professional includes dentist, dental hygienist and dental specialists.· When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source. · For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Communications and Partnerships Section on 1300 175 070 (8.30am - 5pm Mon-Fri). · Subscribe to our email notification service and get media releases or products sent to you on release.